Michelle Gabel/The Post-StandardOnondaga County Chief Fiscal Officer Jim Rowley talks at a meeting of the Onondaga County Legislature in this file photo from April 15, 2010.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Jim Rowley had hoped to become a school administrator years ago.

But politics and police got in the way during the past few years as Rowley’s career detoured through a turn at Clay supervisor, a campaign to merge local police with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and finally an appointment as the county’s top fiscal officer.

Starting July 2, Rowley will get his chance, however, as the assistant superintendent for finance with the Oneida City School District.

Rowley, 50, earned a state certificate of school business administration before he became Clay town supervisor in 2006.

That job led to a successful effort to abolish the town of Clay’s police department and merge with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office – which led to a 20 percent property tax cut for the town.

In 2008, County Executive Joanie Mahoney appointed him as her chief fiscal officer, where he oversees financial planning for a staff of 3,500 and a budget that’s grown to $1.2 billion.

At Oneida city schools, Rowley will take a slight pay cut, from $118,000 to about $110,000. He’ll oversee a $39 million budget for a district with 2,300 students and about 300 staff, according to Oneida schools superintendent Ron Spadafora.

Rowley said his departure from Mahoney’s administration was his choice.

Rowley said he’ll stay at the county job through June 30. No information was available Wednesday about a possible successor.